The Persistent Impact of Politicians’ Working-Class Backgrounds on Citizens’ Sense of Representation

Research shows that workers want to be represented by workers. However, the structure of representative democracy today raises concerns about whether this preference can be sustainably fulfilled. Most national-level representatives are full-time politicians who no longer meet conventional class markers of the working class. Once in office, they often establish long-term careers in politics which might alienate them from their working-class environment. Therefore, this study investigates whether the positive effect of a politician’s working-class background on citizens’ sense of representation diminishes as the politician advances in their career, both over time and by assuming higher-profile roles. Using a conjoint experiment conducted in four European countries, I replicate the finding that working-class citizens feel better represented by politicians with working-class backgrounds. Notably, while such politicians are significantly less likely to be perceived to belong to the working-class as their careers progress, the positive impact of their working-class background on citizens’ sense of representation remains remarkably stable. These findings suggest that the perceived gap between political elites and society can be reduced by creating more pathways for individuals from diverse socio-economic backgrounds to enter and sustain careers in political leadership.